Don't hurry, await state directions to open shops: CAIT to traders

With the Union Home Ministry ordering all state governments to allow opening of shops within their territorial limits of Municipal Corporation or Municipality, the largest traders' body Confederation of All India Traders lauded the decision but issued a caution to the traders to follow orders by their state government in the matter and also sanitize shops and market places before resuming business.

CAIT's national general secretary Praveen Khandelwal sai:, "The central government has taken this decision only after fully assessing the present circumstances related to Corona and keeping in mind the difficulties of the public and economic scenario of the country."

"We appeal the traders across the country to not open their shops in their extreme enthusiasm and await the order of respective state government and as per the same, the shops can be opened. Since trade and shops and establishment is the state subject, only the States Governments are empowered to take the decision," Khandelwal added.

The traders' body with over 7 crore traders across the nation also wrote to the Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Urban Development Minister Hardeep Puri mentioning that in the context of opening of shops or markets, it is necessary that shops and markets are properly sanitized.

It demanded that the government should make a clear plan immediately and advise all the state governments to take necessary steps for sanitizing the markets and the shops.

"Shops and markets have been closed for more than a month, can contain many types of viruses including Corona beside huge dirt, dust, etc., which should be destroyed and remove," CAIT said.

The government on Friday had allowed opening of shops as part of the easing of lockdown restrictions announced on April 15 with neighbourhood shops and others being allowed within the city and all shops except those in malls allowed outside the municipal limits with 50 per cent strength of workers.

No shops have been allowed to open in multi-brand or single brand malls.

In rural areas, all shops, except those in shopping malls are allowed to open. In urban areas, all standalone/neighbourhood shops and shops in residential complexes are allowed to open. Shops in markets/market complexes & shopping malls are not allowed to open, the Centre clarified on Saturday.

Sale by ecommerce companies will continue to be permitted for essential good only; Sale of liquor and other items continues to be prohibited as specified in the National Directives for #COVID19 management.

No shops will be permitted to open in hotspots/containment zones, the clarification issued said.